With many claiming poverty, they voted for extra cash including a whopping £1,000 to offset costs such as mobile phones and car loans.

And they are set to get the new cash even though councillors now spend less time at the town hall than ever before.

Despite a move to a new style of government with fewer meetings - favoured by Tony Blair - councillors claim the extra cash is needed to help them cope with an increasing workload in the communities they serve.

The rise brings the basic allowance for councillors who are expected to do a full-time job, as well as carry out their council duties, to £12,104.

But many, such as deputy leader and Burnage councillor, Kath Robinson, will now receive up to £25,984 a year because of their special responsibilities. An independent panel set out the arguments from leading councillors in a report put before a full council committee on Wednesday.

City centre councillor, Pat Karney, and opposition leader, Simon Ashley submitted their demands for extra cash to the panel.

They said: "Many councillors are unwaged and, because of the time commitments of their work as councillors, find it difficult to obtain jobs.

"Many are suffering from poverty and rely on the basic allowance as their sole source of income."

They also state: "Although there has been a reduction in the time spent by councillors [at meetings], this has been more than compensated for by an increase in work at community level."